Have a mind unafraid to travel with Jesus even though the trail be not blazed
A Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …
Tag Archives: Friend
“Something has always come up and prevented it.” ~Apostle Paul
Paul knew how to plan. Fortunately, he listened to God and so sometimes was unwilling to follow what he planned …
"The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire." ~~Ferdinand Foch
Jesus challenges us to be on fire for him and God’s government. Nothing else should matter. Not family or friends. …
“All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.” ~Apostle John
We are children of God but we are becoming like Jesus. Being children isn’t the end game. Sometimes I think …
“They loved praise from men more than praise from God.” ~Apostle John
Fill in the blank. But because of __________ I would not confess my faith for fear I will be kicked …
"When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast." ~~Jesus to religious leaders
The religious leaders of the day were constantly trying to trap Jesus. It didn’t work but it didn’t keep them …
Contemplation on a prayer: A Poem
Should I pray for an easier life OR to continue becoming a stronger man? I will pray for power equal …
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” ~Apostle Paul
I am not thinking big enough. My imagination is limited in ways I can’t grasp. I ask for catfish and …
“I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other.” ~Apostle Paul
What type of thing would seriously and urgently concern the Apostle Paul about Christians? Paul challenges me to get along. …
"Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you." ~~Jesus
Jesus wants us to tell the story of what He has done for us, the mercy and the love. Jesus …
God is great, God and good!
God is great – Nothing is impossible for Him. He can and does anything. Jesus redeems me. Jesus saves me. …
“Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!” ~King Solomon
I get offended. Probably way too easy. Eventually, everyone is going to say something to offend us. Love is the …
“I was convinced at the time I wrote it that what was best for me was also best for you.” ~~Apostle Paul
What is the best thing to do? What does God want? Do I pray first or just do what I …
Scarecrow in a Melon Patch
Originally posted on 4th Quarter Musings:
Where is our confidence? Where is our trust? Jesus said, do not worry about tomorrow because…
A river like you, Jesus
A river like you, Jesus!! Oh my heavenly Father. Your love runs so deep and true in my life. A …
"Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home." ~~Jesus to the paraplegic
The man believed Jesus could heal him. His friends believed it so much that when they couldn’t get in the …
“Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.” ~Jesus
Jesus is clear. Judging and focusing on what people are doing I don’t care for will bring the same thing …
“Seek good and not evil — and live!” ~Amos
Jesus is clear. There is nothing ambiguous in his direction for my life. My goal is to love, to seek …
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.” ~James
I get many gifts in life. Do I see tests and challenges as one of them? That is how I …
“Anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.” ~Apostle Paul
Today, in Jesus, we get a fresh start and are created new in him. Now, that is some good news. …
Christ-mas is close. Keep Jesus, the Messiah, first. Let’s make some memories.
Christmas is close! Very close!! Holidays are about family, friends and fun .. Pray! Keep God first! If it doesn’t …
Jesus leads us as the new pioneer of supernatural faith and courage.
God got everything started. Everything came from Him. His word made it all happen. He is also the one who …
“You have made them a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned them with glory and honor.” ~King David
I am stunned at how our Father sees me compared to how I see myself. Jesus sees me as a friend …
"Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God." ~~Apostle Paul
Here is some great advise from the Apostle Paul. The best he can wish for us is that we stay …
“If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.” ~Apostle Paul
God didn’t choose the brightest and the best. God chooses those who will follow Him. That is it. The brightest …
“I will put my way in their minds and write it on their hearts.” ~God
God has abandoned the old plan. He has completely left it behind. He did it in Jesus our Master. The …
“Everything is going to be all right. Take courage. Be strong.” ~God to Daniel
Daniel saw something that created massive fear in his life. He fainted, fell flat on the ground, face in the …
“God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in.” ~King David
Jesus calls me to maturity and to be a friend. It is my obedience and worship of God that leads …
“Build up his courage.” ~God to Moses
God wants us to build up courage in others. We all get discouraged and we hear our friends express it …
“Build yourselves up in this most holy supernatural courage by praying in the Holy Spirit.” ~Jude
There are some things to be careful about. I must take responsibility for building myself up. In fact, I can listen to my-self, …
“First Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.” ~Apostle Paul
Oh how we value the articulate and charismatic preachers. The powerful of this world. The smart ones. The bright ones. …
“Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them.” ~Apostle Paul
If I asked my family, friends, and colleagues if I were on their side, what would the answer be. I …
“Follow your father’s good advice; don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings.” ~King Solomon
I am an extremely fortunate man. My earthly father gave me excellent advice. I don’t know if he saw that …
Is God our friend?
We start out as slaves. Our path to maturity starts with servitude and obedience. I saw this in my relationship …
“Let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without.” ~Apostle Paul
I get distracted. It seems to happen way too easily. It must be the “shiny new object” syndrome. Jesus challenges …
“So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk.” ~Jesus
The religious bullies want to intimidate us into silence. Nothing would please them more. Jesus challenges us to speak up …
“I’m sticking with God” ~Jeremiah
I am sticking with God!! I could trust myself, my friends, my family. Nothing wrong with that. That is what …
What is happening with my friends who follow Jesus?
I think of certain friends very often. Every time I think of them, I am so thankful to God for …
“My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God.” ~Apostle John
Interesting that John challenges us to continue to love. Not start but continue. Real love that comes from our Father requires …
“To the church that meets in your house.” ~Apostle Paul
We know this but forget it. The church, that is a building, didn’t exist for Jesus and his followers. What was …
“That was my reason for writing a letter instead of coming.” ~Apostle Paul
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was very direct. He was concerned about what he was hearing. Sometimes a clearly …
“First Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.” ~Apostle Paul
It is so easy to get carried away. Paul had tried polished speeches before. Not much happened (this is detailed …
“We can’t quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you!” ~Apostle Paul
I have a job to do. I must continue and continue to thank God for those I have relationships with. I must not quit. …
"If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness." ~Jesus
Jesus knows who He is. Jesus knows that God sent him to redeem the world. Jesus knows he will pay …
“My help and glory are in God” ~King David
Where do I look for help? While I may look to myself, family and friends, God is my help. When …
“We need to decide when our brothers and sisters are out of line and, if necessary, clean house.” ~Apostle Paul
I must be a witness to the good news that Jesus offers to everyone, no matter their background. I am …
“Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” ~Apostle Paul (Philippians 2)
Following Jesus should make a difference in how I live my life. I need to have a heart and care …
"When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges me to do things differently than the way people of this world do things. He is not subtle at …
“If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face.” ~Jesus
I must not see myself as more important than others. That kind of pride will get me nowhere in God’s world. …
“The first thing I want you to do is pray.” ~Apostle Paul
God wants me to pray. I need to have a conversation with God but I definitely need to listen. God …
“I have to write begging that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish.” ~Jude
Jesus is my Master and the Messiah (anointed one of God). It is a gift from Jesus that I am …
“When the Messiah died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free.” ~Apostle Paul
I have died with the Messiah Jesus. I am free from living a “rule-dominated” life. That way of life is …
“Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, ‘Oh, thank you, God!’ ” ~Apostle Paul
I need to thank God for my brothers and sisters in the faith of our Master Jesus. When I don’t …
“So how should I prepare to come to you?” ~Apostle Paul
Others get to decide how I will come to them. It is their actions that determine that. Will I come as disciplinarian? …
“Friends, don’t complain about each other.” ~James, brother of Jesus
I complain about others. It isn’t very pretty or becoming. I am ashamed when I think about it. Many times, …
“On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both the Messiah and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing!” ~~Apostle John
I like hearing about the “new thing”. What is the shiny new object? Truth is not new. Truth is eternal. …
“God picked you out as his from the very start.” ~Apostle Paul
I should never lack for anything to pray about. I can thank God, all day long, for my family, friends, …
“Don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith .” ~Apostle Peter
God has a goal for us. God, through his victorious son Jesus, wants us to build on the foundation of …
“Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love.” ~Apostle John
I must be diligent in living out the truth of God’s commandment. I must be consistent and not waiver. I …
“I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best.” ~Apostle Paul
When I have changed my mind (repented), I need to fill my mind with the right things. What should I …
“My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end.” ~Apostle Paul
I am God’s slave. Jesus is my Master and he owns me. This has happened because of what Jesus did …
“The person who does evil falsifies God, doesn’t know the first thing about God.” ~Apostle John
There is good. We all know it and point it out. We try to be better people and be good …
“Far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities.” ~King David
Who do I trust? When I need help, who do I call? If I need some money to get me …
“I’m speaking to you as dear friends.” ~Jesus
Jesus considers us friends. Jesus wants to confide with me. Jesus has some things he wants me to know. Jesus …
“Seek good and not evil — and live!” ~Amos
Jesus challenges me to live like my faith means something. My faith must be lived out in love. I must have a …
“Here’s the reward I have for every conqueror.” ~Jesus
We live a life building on what we’ve been given, complementing our basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate …
“So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.” ~Apostle Paul
Love is not all about the emotion of it and our feelings. It is not sentimental gush. Over time, we …
“It’s (love) always been implicit in the Message you’ve heard.” ~Apostle John
I am seeking a new and shiny object. Innovation is cool. The new thing is the holy grail. I love …
“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” ~Albert Einstein
I have limits. I like to pretend I don’t. I like for my friends and family to think I don’t. …
“There are a lot of lying religious leaders loose in the world.” ~Apostle John
My natural inclination is to trust ministers and the clergy. The Apostle John advises otherwise. He knows that there are …
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ~Aesop
We are called to be people who are kind. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit, through the sacrifice …
“It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.” ~Apostle Peter
A curious warning is given to us in Peter’s first letter. There he tells us to be ready to give …
“If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face.” ~Jesus
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable” I …
Remember the early days when we first came to Jesus?
We should remember the early days when we first came to Jesus, the Messiah, and saw the truth. Those were …
“A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does.” ~Oswald Chambers
What is purity? Practically, what does it mean? One huge aspect is purity in our relationships. Now this is tough …
“Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” ~Apostle Paul
What happens when I live God’s way? (I am pausing here to think on this!!!) Jesus, the Messiah, brings gifts …
“Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Messiah” ~Jude
The mission God has given me is to keep myself in a faith that is set apart for Him. That …
“Thanks for giving your lunch to God. He did something with it; it became the Bread of Life for me.” ~Max Lucado
Great story from Max Lucado. We never know how our faith in Jesus will pay off. Even when it makes …
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jesus, the Messiah, and our Master, challenges us to love. He challenges us to love our enemies. He challenges us …
"Money just draws flies." ~~ Mahalia Jackson
There is one thing for sure. If you have money, it is “attractive” to others. They will seek you out. …
“If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us.” ~~Oswald Chambers
Am I willing to let others experience pain because I am following Jesus? Obedience brings joy to the believer. To …
Transform a life in a moment #goeverywhere2015 #whyibelieve
Imagine Christians all over the world, standing together in a single moment in time, declaring their faith. Imagine millions receiving the …
What is the new plan?
So God had an old plan before the new one. It was the plan based on following lots of rules …
“A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself.” ~Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers makes an amazing point. Is my witness about myself or about Jesus? Is Jesus increasing or am I? …
Am I too bold in what I ask of God?
Am I too bold in what I ask of God? Or am I not bold enough? He has a heart …
"If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that." ~~Jesus
We live in a world where there is conventional wisdom. We have a culture of success and infatuation with the …
“If my goal was popularity, I wouldn’t bother being the Messiah’s slave.” ~Apostle Paul
Is my goal popularity? The Apostle Paul was clear that wasn’t his goal. He knew what his goal was. His …
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Master.” ~Apostle Peter
It just keeps rolling on. Over and over again. God’s grace. God’s peace. Multiplying infinitely and never stopping. This happens as I …
Pope Francis’ Speech on the Poor and Indigenous Peoples
Pope Francis spoke about the problems faced by the poor and indigenous peoples at the Second World Meeting of the …
“It’s in the Messiah that we find out who we are and what we are living for.” ~Apostle Paul
Who am I? What am I living for? These are essential questions. Questions that we want answers for. We have …
“You just don’t luck into things as much as you’d like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it’s friendships or opportunities.” ~Barbara Bush
Life is not about luck as much as it is about hard work. It usually takes a series of steps …
“Let every nation know that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” ~~John F. Kennedy
Liberty is so important. John F. Kennedy understood it and fought for it. He gave his life for it. Let …
"The simple moral fact is that words kill." ~~Jesus
Jesus warns us to be careful about what we say to others. Our mandate is to love. Anything other than …
Ecclesiastes, the world view of Mad Men and good news
I discovered the series “Mad Men” recently. I think this sums it up pretty well. “Vanity of vanities, all is …
“The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.” ~~King Solomon
Ah, now there we go. Down to earth people. We all seem to admire them. But is that said of …
"God gives his best to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty." ~~Jesus
God’s generosity extends to everyone. He includes the evil, the bad and the nasty in His plans to redeem and …
"Let your enemies bring out the best in you, not the worst." ~~Jesus
There are people in our lives that simple challenge us. Many times that challenge clearly brings out the worst in …
"If you enter your place of worship and you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right." ~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to live a real life, versus a fake spiritual one. God commands us to love one another. …
“Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them.” ~~Apostle Paul
This is a stunning way to approach relationships. And it should be our approach to all we meet, not just friends …
“I have a dream today.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream” Speech I am happy to join with you today in what will go …
Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts 